Happy :-)

So, tonight I'm writing simply for the sake of writing. There's something amazing about being able to express something deep within my soul and I am truly grateful for the gift of being able to do just that. Life is good - and has been good for quite some time...yet another thing I am truly grateful for.

This past March, I released my latest CD of originals, titled 'Remnants of the Fall.' It's a double album full of the sum and substance of things that have been going on in my life throughout the last 4 1/2 years. It's some of my most honest and 'raw' writing and I couldn't be more proud of how it turned out. I co-produced it with the incredible Frank Starchak and we had an amazing time working on it together. Please click here:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jenstackpole to listen to samples or buy the CD.

In other news, I've had the immense pleasure of working with and singing/recording for the outstanding Barbara Vu. Recently she released an album entitled 'With You', which I had the pleasure of recording all but 2 songs on. She's an incredible songwriter and I LOVE singing her songs. Please visit her website to listen to her amazing music and/or buy one of her CDs: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jenniferstackpolejennife

For the time being, I'm completely content just enjoying the feedback I've been getting from my latest musical projects. People have really been enjoying both 'Remnants of the Fall' and 'With You' - and I'm so grateful for that. Soon I will be heading 'back to school' for something really special that I'm really excited about. :-) Details on that coming up!

Much much love,
~Jen

Friend Role

Here is a groovy little tune from my latest album. The song is called 'Friend Role' and the album it's off of is called 'Remnants of the Fall.' I wrote this song about an experience I had while I was in college. It was a little painful at the time, but it turned into one of my favorite songs on the album - so, all's well that ends well! :-)  I hope you enjoy it!!


Friend Role

'With You' CD now available!

I hope you're having a terrific summer so far!!

I just wanted to take a quick minute to tell you about a brand new CD that I am completely honored to have been a part of. My dear friend and fellow songwriter, Barbara McInnis Vu has truly outdone herself. She wrote an entire CD of some of the most healing music I have ever heard.
Several months ago, Barbara contacted me and asked if I would consider singing some of the songs she had in mind for this project. I told her I'd be happy to take a listen to them all to see which ones I 'resonated' with and, lo and behold, I feel in love with every single one of them!

Barbara is an incredible songwriter with an amazing gift for writing songs that truly move people. As a musician, she's an incredible pianist with a unique ability for writing some of the most interesting and complex chord changes imagineable. All of this adds up to music that moves and inspires me.
I 'get' Barbara. I understand her and the message she is trying to convey through her music. I am truly honored to be a part of her latest CD, 'With You.' I sang all but two of the songs on this CD (the other two were sung by the outstanding, Jennifer Baselice) and I am so proud of how it turned out.
I hope you'll take a minute and go Barbara's website and check out the new CD:
  
http://inheritingthekingdomministries.com 

As always, I can't thank you enough for all your love and support! I hope you enjoy Barbara's beautiful songs!


Love always,
~Jen

She Sits

Here's one of my favorite songs from my 2007 album, 'Leap of Faith.' It's a song called 'She Sits' and it is my dedication to all people everywhere who know they were born to live 'bigger' lives than the ones they've been living. It's never to late to make a different choice, a more rewarding choice, a bigger choice than the one you've been making. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, take that 'Leap of Faith' and just trust that everything will work out just fine - because it always will - ALWAYS. I hope you enjoy the song! Thanks for listening!

Love,
~Jen

 She Sits

Every song tells a story

So, here I am, up late once again. :-) Tonight, I'm watching VH1 Storytellers with Jason Mraz. Yum, yum and more yum. His music is delicious and his songs move me. His level of honesty inspires me to keep on digging. I know there are levels of love and spirit and fear and wonder and simple human-ness that I have yet to tap into - in both my life and my music. I've recently started writing again. No new songs have come - yet - but I know they're in there....just waiting for the right time and space to bubble up to the surface. 

I was on the phone with a dear friend of mine (who also happens to be a terrific musician/singer/songwriter) last night and we were talking about the idea of writer's 'block.' He asked me what I thought about it - whether or not I believe in it. I stopped and took a deep breath before I gently answered, 'No.' I believe that songs and music and creativity in general are ever flowing. God (which is most definitely the Source of my creativity, my music, and anything else that truly matters in my life) doesn't just stop giving me songs. The Universe doesn't support me in my creative endeavors for a brief time (or even a long time) and then all of a sudden stop. If songs aren't coming to me, it's because of one of two reasons: 1) I'm not ready for them yet or 2) I'm blocking them because I'm afraid of something.

One thing that I've learned about music is that it's not the notes or chords that make the song - it's the silence in between the notes/chords that gives the song life. The same goes for me with songwriting. It's wonderful when I am blessed enough to receive a new song. I get excited - like a little kid at Christmas - and I want to spend all my time working on it, playing with it, seeing what it wants to be. But, equally beautiful, is that time in between songs. The time where I'm not writing because I'm too busy living life and having incredible experiences to even think about writing them down.

The time to write will come and I'll recognize it the moment it arrives. I will feel that inner pull, that 'calling.' I'll pick up the pen and start writing again. Every song will tell a story. Every song tells my story - and, God willing - every song will tell your story, too. I'm truly blessed to be given so many opportunities to connect to a larger Source and hear what it has to say. I do my best to relay those 'messages' in my songs.  I hope that, whatever that Source has to say, it ends up moving you as much as it does me...

Dear Shane

Dear Shane

Here's an oldie, but a goodie from my first album, Let the Girl Sing (released in 2006). I hope you enjoy it! :-) 

Jeff, Who Lives at Home

Just got home from a short, 3 day cruise to the Bahamas with my honey. We had an amazing time and it was a MUCH needed getaway. We drove down to Miami on Thursday and sailed out of the Port of Miami this past Friday. The whole experience was amazing and I'm so grateful that we were able to get 'away from it all' for a few days.

One of the best parts of the entire weekend was when we watched the movie 'Jeff, Who Lives at Home' in our hotel room Thursday night. The movie stars Jason Segel (from 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall') and Ed Helms (from 'the Hangover') and I can honestly say this is one of the best movies I've seen in ages! I loved every single minute of it. The acting is top notch as is the story, the writing, etc, etc. I don't want to say too much about the film - you just have to watch it for yourself. It's AMAZING! :-)

love, Love, LOVE it!! - http://www.JeffWhoLivesAtHome.com/

Please check it out when you have a chance!!

Love always,
~Jen